Internal-combustion engine



June 26, 1928.

7 1,674,707 M. F. STUBBS INTERNAL COMBUSTIQN ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1926 INVENTOR. v M. F. 671/555 BY WN ABM-:-

Patented June 26, 1928.

I 1,674,701 PATENT? one! (1E Minimum. saunas-, pr. D NVER, COLORADO I INTERNALRCOMBUISTIONIENGINE;

'. Application medAugusz 17,1926: sriai:1-r6.-129;7ss:

My invention relates-to internal combustion engines andinore particularly to explozs ion engines of the two cycle type.

It is an object loftthe invention to. provide 5 in an engine ofthe above stated character, a rotary element which by a uniform motion controlstheintake, ignition andlexhaust of gases, in connection with one or more cylinders of. the. reciprocating piston type.

Another objeet-ofithe invention to provide in .an..internalcombustion engine, .a rotary element asrstateclaboyefln Whichis included L3COl11b11StlOIL chambers in--.connection with a source orf fueliinder.pressure, and an ignitiont iclericea'in .oppratiVerelatiOn with a suitaloletimerh I Afurtherobj ectistoprovide, by means of a 'rota-ry control element a means for the rapid and complete. discharge .otfiinert gases I in eachtcycle';oiii the engine-,so as to practically eliminate, baclclpressure; and ,rstill.-'other objects reside in details: ot'gconstructi'on ancl novel iancluse fuharrangements and rcombin 2 tion-s-o-iparts. as. willbeflfullydisclosed in .the

with reference to the accompanying. drawmgs:

IDJ' thedrawings in thenseveralliviews. of

which like.- parts; areh'corr'e'srpndingly ,desi'g- I tion'srrofrtlie rotary elementxandrthe.piston halfwayofiits 'powe-r stroke, t

gure :4; Ja simila'n View with ,the. p arts in bustion iitlB: beginning to: exhaust,

I 'lligure"; 5", a similarwsection showinguthe parts; in position; during: full exhaust and fuelfiintakepanda Y "Figure 6,.an enlarged,ifraglnentary, sectional iew of a portion of the housingof the rotary: element, showingthe construction of thepacking stripsiemplogyed to preventleakage offmotii e-fluid; l

The en gine illustrated in the drawings has courseofathet, following, description made the/position iniwhich thefinertgases. 016.com

fOurcy1inderss5 the pistons GHotZWhichare operated by the rotary movement ofa siriglecontrol element -dii ided "into a corresponding number-of sectionssxby transverse partitions:

It is to; be understood, however, that my invention is *not limited" to any particular number 'of cylindrs and-"that "it may b'e elfe'c tively employed in connection With a single} cylinder engineer with :innltiple cyl'ind-r en ginesj of number of power-units:-

The" cylinders 5 may be) casten' b'locas shown, inFi'gure 1, in integral connection 1 1 with aninterna-lljz cylindrical housing A 7?for the control-element 8-h'ereinafter-r to be olescribedin detail, The" housing is divided by transverse partitions-9' lnto four seotions-cor responding in; position with. the i four" cylinders. and itgincludsiwconcentric axially'coincident tubular core -101wh'ich may-be madc separatefrom the casting: 1 w i The "core .and' th e' outer wall ofthehousing provide nn annular 'space-in" which the control element is"fitted' for rotation; 'lhehbus ingliasinits'outer-wal1,' openings; 12"; one i for each offits'sections, which communicate with theiatin'osphere" for the" exhaust of 'jine'rt gases, and ports 25 which connect tlieinte- I rior ofits'sections"with the respective cylinders The I pistons 6 of are cylinders- 5 are 'b'y means- 0f? rods 13 connected*-witlf' a -crankj-' and the control element 8 is connected;with

the crankshaft to rotate. in-unison therewith at a reducedivel'ocity as for'example; a -one tov three ratio, by"means Qf be eIed gjear opposite ends of a jack-shaft 20'," the ratio depending on the number of-"comb'ustion chambersof the control element, [for each cylinder offtlieengine:

The rotary; element hereinbefore reliollow body transverselydivided" intosections,coresp'ond-ingwith those 'Of tl 1 6*h0L1S1Il-g.

peatedly referred to, comprisesacylinrlrical The four sections of "thei rotary-body fit snugly in the annular fspaces of'the'housingsections and" are: connected for Tconjiinrctive rotation by intermediate tubular 'parts' 21 which extend through the -transverse partitions of th'ie housing, around the central: m I

have ports 24 in the periphery of the element, adapted to register with the fuel-port and the exhaust port of the corresponding section of the housing,

The rotary body has at one end a gudgeon 26 for its operative connection with the jack shaft by means of the beveled gear wheels 19 and 18.

The hollow core 10 of the housing 7 extends beyond the end thereof for its connec tion with a source of gaseous fuel under pressure, it has .for each section of the housing a port 30 to admit the motive fluid to the chambers of the rotary element and it is furthermore provided with an internal duct 27 of smaller diameter, the end of which is connected with a blower or other similar appliance for the supply of air under pressure. The duct has in the periphery of the core, ports 28 which communicate with the annular space of the housing in each section thereof, opposite to the exhaust openings 12 of the same for the purpose of scavenging the respective cylinders of the engine during each cycle in the movement of the pistons.

The core of the housing has furthermore, opposite to the fuel-ports 25 communicating with the cylinders, openings 29 for the application of spark-plugs 36 the firing points of which are in the openings. The spark plugs are connected with a suitable timingdevice by wires, not shown in the drawing, which extend through the hollow core of the housing. I

In the operation of the engine the four pistons are moved to impel the shaft by successive impulses upon its angularly disposed cranks. as is usual in engines of this type and it will be apparent that in order to obtain the successive impulses of the ignited fuel charges upon the'pistons, it is necessary that the chambers of the sections of the control element be relatively arranged to effect the supply and ignition of the fuel charges and the exhaust of gases of combustion at the proper times in the movement of the respec tive pistons.

Inasmuch as the operation. of each unit of the engine is identical to that of the other units, as far as the successivesteps thereof are concerned, a detailed explanation of the operation of any one of the units will suffice to convey a clear understanding of the operation of the entire invention and the advantages derived thereby.

To aid in the description, the three chambers produced by the radial webs of the rotary element have been designated in the drawings bythe letters A, B and C, and. the direction of rotation has been indicated by the arrows D. NVhen the piston is. at the end of its inward stroke, as shown in Figure 2, the rotary control element is in the position in which the port 24 of its chamber A is about to open into the port 25 between the housing and the cylinder. At this point, the charge of fuel in the chamber A is ignited by the spark plug 36 and the force of explosion efiects the power stroke of the piston, which is communicated to the crankshaft by means of the piston rod 13.

In the position of the rotary element illustrated in Figure 2, the port 25 of the cylinder is closed, to be opened for the admission of the gases of explosion immediately upon ignition of the charge in the chamber A, and a fresh charge of fuel under pressure is admitted to the chamber C through the port 30 of the core 10 of the housing. a

This condition is continued during further rotation of the element as shown in Figure 2, until the port 24 of the chamber A begins to open in the exhaust port 12 of the housing as indicated in Figure 4, when the spent gases are permitted to escape from the cylinder into the atmosphere.

The chamber C remains constantly in communication with the source of fuel supply until the rotor reaches the position shown in Figure 4, when the next following chamber B is connected with the source and the chamber A is brought in connection with the port 28 of the duct 27, to completely scavenge the cylinder by fluid pressure of the blower with which the duct is connected.

During the continued movement of the rotary element, the chamber C filled with compressed lfuel gases, is brought to the position of the chamber A shown in Figure 2, fresh fuel is admitted to the chamber B by its connection with the port 30, and the spark plug is again operated by the timer to ignite the charge in the chamber C It will thus be seen that in each revolution of the rotor three explosions take place in each'of its sections while the'cylinders are completely scavenged of inert gases in the intermediate periods. 7

In order to prevent the leakage of gases between the chambers of the rotor, packing strips are applied as indicated at 31 and illustrated in detail in Figure 6, and other packings may be used at different points if required.

It will be'understood that the number of chambers in the rotary control-element-may be decreased or increased without departing from the principles of the inventiom'that the exhaust openings may be connected in a common manifold, and that other variations in the construction and arrangement of the parts comprised in the engine may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

Simplicity of construction combined with e the usual mann'er'.

harem? strokes and that the-valve surface for I both the intalie and tlre exhaust or gasesis flarge incomparison with *those' of oth er engines of similarftype'r I c As'stated hereinbefore the pistonsfmove to theextremeends of 'thei-r cylinders, and the-chambers of tlie rotary element are the combustionchambers int which" the fuel' is ignited heforebeing admitted to1 the*cy lin'ders throughthcports 25'5- It will beun-d-rstood 5 without further il lu'strationth'at botli tlfe cylinders and the h o'us-ingof"the* rotary control element may be provided' with suitable cooling devices'in Having tlius described my? invention, wh at" I claim'and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is g I 12 In an internal combustion engme,a p s ton-cylinder, an annular housing having its"-out'e1"wall a" POItCOITIIGCtIn'g"Wltli the piston-cylmderp an annular" housing coin cylinder, and anexhaust port, andihaving iiiitsinnerwall, a po-rt'fo'r connectionwlth a source of fuel-supp,ly, a.rotary controlelementin the housing; divided into combustion-chambers each having ports adapted to register with the ports in the walls of the housing, and means to ignite the fuel-charge in each of the chambers at a determinate point in the rotary movement of the element.

2. In an internal combustion engine, apiston-cylinder, an annular housing having in its outer wall a port connecting with the cylinder, and an exhaust port, and having in its inner wall, a port for connection with a source of fuel-supply, a rotary controlelement in the housing,- divlded into combustion-chambers each having ports adapated to register with the ports in the walls of the housing. and an ignition-device in an opening of the inner Wall of the housing.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a piston-cylinder, an annular housinghaving in its outer wall a port connecting with the cylinder, and an exhaust port, and having in its inner wall, a port for connection with a source of fuel-supply, a rotary control-element in the housing, divided into combustion-chambers each having ports adapted to register with the ports in the walls of the housing, meansto ignite thefuel-charge in each of the chambers at a determinate point in the rotary movement of the element, and a ductfor connection with a source of pressure fluid, having a port ina Wall of the housing, to scavenge the cylinder through the exhaust-port. V 4. In an internal combustion engine, a

piston-cylinder, an annular housing composed be an 1 outer-wall having aportrcon; n'ecting WIlElf' the=- cylinder; and an exh'anst port; and a port'ed inner wall pr'ovided fby a hollow core adapted 3 for connection: 1 with a sourceof fuel supplyg a rotary control-element in-*tl1ehousing,' divided into combus- 'tion-cha rrrbers each having ports adapted to register witlr the ports in' the walls of the housing; and-' means to 2 ignite the fuel ch'argedn each of the chambers ata i determinate point in the movement of the: ele:-' ment: r

5-; In an internal combustion engine, a piston-cylinder, an annular "ho-using ha ving iniits outer wall, a port connecting witht-he cylinder, and an exhaust port, and havin'g'in its inner wall, a 1 port for connection with a source. of fuel-supply, arotary 'control e les, ment in the housing; dividedfinto combus tion-chambers I each having ports 1 adapted to register with; the ports in i the walls of the housing, "and an ignition device in the housingadapted to 1 connect 1 with the chain bers successively by e the rotary movement of the elementi i i I 6. In 'aninternalcombustion engine,

, housing, a duct in the hollow core, for connection with. a source of pressure-fluid, having a port in the Wall of the core to scavenge the cylinder through the exhaust-port, and meansto ignite the fuel charge in each of the chambers at a determinate point in the movement of the element.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a

piston-cylinder, a housing having a port connecting with a the cylinder, and an exhaust port, a ported conduit for the supply of fuel t to the housing, a rotary control-element in the housing, having combustion-chambers ported to connect successively with the conduit, the cylinder and the exhaust port, and means to ignite the fuel charge in each of the chambers at'a determinate point in the movement of the element. J

8. In an internal combustion engine, a piston-cylinder, a housing having a port connecting with the cylinder, and an exhaust port, a ported conduit for the supply of fuel to the housing, a rotary control-element in the housing, having combustionchambers ported to connect successively with the conduit, the cylinder and the exhaust port, and an ignition device disposed to connect with the chambers, successively, by the rotary movement of the element,

9. In an internal combustion engine, a

plurality of piston-cylinders, a housing divided into annular compartments in axial alinement, each compartment having in its outer wall, a port connecting with one of the cylinders, and an exhaust port, and having in its inner wall a port for connection with a source of fuel-supply, a rotary control-element having sections in the compartments, each section being divided into combustion chambers and each chamber having ports adapted to register with the ports in the walls of the respective compartment, and means to ignite the fuel-charge in each of the chambers of each section at determinate points in the movement of the rotary element.

10. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of piston-cylinders, a housing composed of an outer wall, a ported inner wall provided by a hollow core, and partitions dividing the space between the walls into axially alined annular compartments, each compartment having in its outer wall, a port connecting with one of the cylinders, and an exhaust port, a source of fuel supply connecting with the core, a rotary control-element having sections in the compartments, each section being divided into combustion-chambers and each chamber having ports adapted to register with the ports in the walls of the respective compartment, and means to ignite the 'fuelcharge in each of the chambers of eachsection at determinate points in the movement of the rotary element. a

11. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of piston-cylinders, a housing composed of an outer wall, a ported inner wall provided by a hollow core, and partitions dividing the space between the walls into axially alined annular compartments, each compartment having in its outerwall, a port connecting with one of the cylinders, and an exhaust port, a source of fuel supply connecting with the core, a rotary control-element having sect-ions in the compartments, each section being divided into combustionchambers and each chamber having ports adapted to register with the ports in the walls of the respective compartment, a duct having in the wall of the core, ports connecting with the compartments, a source of pressure-fluid connected with the duct, and means to ignite the fuel-charge in each of the chambers of each section at determinate points in the movement of the rotary element. i

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature.

MERRILL F. STUBBS. 

